Messages

16

Gear Talk / Re: Bike Sizing

« on: May 05, 2013, 01:05:04 pm »

Be sure to compare top tube lengths as well as frame size.

For me, it's always been a bit easier to adjust my fit to a slightly smaller frame rather than to a slightly larger one.  Stem length, rise, stack height and seat post (up-down, fore-aft) are easier to adjust on a smaller versus larger frame IMO. 

17

General Discussion / Re: The importance of always wearing a helmet

« on: May 02, 2013, 12:02:22 pm »

A helmet is a personal choice - (unless a local law dictates otherwise)

Personally, I choose to wear a helmet. 
I figure if I chose not to wear it one day, and that was the day I crashed - it would nullify all those other times I wore and didn't need it.

18

General Discussion / Re: 3 years to retirement.

« on: May 01, 2013, 11:06:21 am »

Congrats on your pending retirement!

The mushy feeling could be the setting on your front suspension.  I don't know if the fork on that particular bike is adjustable?  Either way, personally, I would prefer a rigid fork for riding the road.  Some suspension forks have a "lock out" function that essentially converts it to a rigid fork with the turn of a dial while on the fly.

Are you planning a supported or unsupported cross country tour?  If you are planning to do it on your own, I think it would be well worth the cost of a touring-specific bicycle.  Decent touring bikes can be had for well under $1500.  A relatively small price to pay considering the numbers of hours, days, weeks you will be riding it cross country.

19

Gear Talk / Re: Ultra Light TransAm Ride

« on: April 30, 2013, 12:27:56 pm »

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/index.html

This is a link to a backpacking website but much of the info is valuable for bike touring as well.
In general, lighter gear means more expensive gear.  But worth it IMO.

20

Routes / Re: Route through or around Los Angeles.

« on: April 30, 2013, 12:22:00 pm »

Following the coastal route through LA is certainly no worse (IMO) than some of the narrower sections of Highway 1 further north.  You will undoubtedly be sharing the road and trail with others, but it is relatively safe riding when compared to much of the route you will have already covered. 

As another poster mentioned - much of the coastal route through LA is on beach bike trails. 

21

General Discussion / Re: Inspire or Scare the Begeebees?

« on: April 28, 2013, 12:20:22 pm »

Bears and rednecks are the least of my concerns.
Drivers texting and 80+y/o's driving motorhomes or pulling fifth wheeled trailers are the far bigger risks IMO.

22

General Discussion / Re: How to Blog? Crazyguyonabike?

« on: April 28, 2013, 12:09:12 pm »

I have cruised Crazy... on many occasions.  While the formatting and graphics are not on par with today's web style, it is a very informative and interesting website.  I agree there is a TON of info to sift through.  I have had reasonably good luck just using their search function to find more specific information.

23

General Discussion / Re: Tents

« on: April 28, 2013, 12:01:42 pm »

A tent like many other items is a give and take.  The more you get in terms of comfort and convenience the more weight and bulk you will have to deal with. 

I am fine with the capacity ratings on most tents.  That being said, I usually will only share a tent with my wife and/or my kids.  If I were traveling with anyone else I would likely use a lightweight one person tent.  With a 1P tent you get your own private space plus it's easier to find a clear flat spot to fit the smaller footprint.  Plus, if for some unforeseen reason you and your partner get separated, you still have a complete shelter system.

UL 1P tents can be found at roughly 2 pounds:  https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Tent/FlyCreekUL1

24

General Discussion / Re: Do we need to do any training?

« on: April 22, 2013, 02:54:37 pm »

You can ride yourselves in to shape, but you would likely have much more enjoyable first month or so if you did more preparation.  Just your backside alone would thank for some prep, let alone your legs, hands, neck, etc.

Most young, reasonably fit people are capable of making across the country.  You just might enjoy it more with some prep.

 

25

General Discussion / Re: touring without "eating out"

« on: April 11, 2013, 12:26:01 pm »

Top Ramen - only has to cook for 3 minutes
Cous cous - just bring water to a boil and let it sit for 5 minutes. 
Minute Rice -
 
All three are cheap, easy, light and require relatively little fuel to cook.  They are available at most grocery stores.  Add veggies and/or packaged tuna or chicken to any of them for a more balanced meal. 



Freeze dried meals can get expensive if you're eating them every day.  Plus, they really aren't very good unless you're completely famished, then anything tastes good.

26

General Discussion / Re: Guide to Poor Woman's Cycling

« on: March 28, 2013, 08:29:31 pm »

Being young with no money and wanting to hit the road with your dog, sounds like Svein Tuft all over again to me. He did this very thing and ended up with several national championships and a medal at worlds.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/sports/othersports/08cycling.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Thanks for that.
I knew of Tuft as a pro cyclist but I didn't know anything of his background.  Very interesting story.

27

General Discussion / Re: What should I name my trip?

« on: March 27, 2013, 11:23:26 am »

The Bean Town To Tinsel Town Trail
Or - TBTTTTT

 

28

General Discussion / Re: Touring Question

« on: March 18, 2013, 12:42:10 pm »

I recently watched a movie on Netflix entitled 180 Degrees South. Our hero catches a ride on a boat to Chile on the way to Patagonia to  climb a mountain. He was retracing the path  two of his heroes took four decades ago and he was going to meet those two in Patagonia. On the way the boat broke and they spent a couple months on Easter Island where he met a girl who, once the boat was repaired, went with them. Once in Patagonia they got to hang out with Yvon Chouinard and Doug Tompkins and enjoy personal tours of the 2 million acre Concervacion Patagonica and go surfing. When it came time to climb the mountain the ice was melted and they were stopped within a few hundred feet of the summit because conditions were too dangerous. He moped about this for days maybe longer....as if the entire journey was a waste and a failure. Mr. Chouinard was fine with stopping even farther from the summit saying:
 "What's important is how you got there, not what you've accomplished". and
 "When everything goes wrong, that's when the adventure begins"
So my question is:
Why do you want to ride your bike across the country? Why set another, arbitrary goal like that which is already causing stress and frustration?  Raising decent kids is a goal. A career is a goal. Contributing something is a goal. Bike touring is bike touring. It's not a race or a contest and as Mr. Chouinard (who, apparently is my new hero too) also said;
"it's about the changes that happen inside you"
Go when you can...overnight, a week, three weeks or three months.
 


 

Chouinard is an interesting cat.

29

General Discussion / Re: Off topic: If you are bored and need a laugh ... or is it dead serious?

« on: March 17, 2013, 06:36:38 pm »

Sadly, I don't see the posts as jokes, I believe they are dead serious.
The boogey man is very real to some people.

If cycling were so dangerous that I felt it was necessary to arm myself with a firearm every time I went for a ride...I think I'd look for another activity.

30

General Discussion / Re: Disturbing Story From India

« on: March 17, 2013, 06:30:11 pm »

Yeah, freaky story for sure.
The article mentioned they were touring by bicycle.  It didn't give much detail beyond that though.

I hope justice prevails, at least.